Why is it so many of us struggle to recreate the perfect blow dry that our hairdresser so effortlessly achieves? It’s actually easier than you think; you just need to know a few tricks and techniques. Here are my top 10 tips:

Make sure you use the right shampoo. There’s a specialist product for each and every hair type so make sure you choose one that’s right for yours. Shampoos that tend to lather too much have a high detergent content which can cause stress to the hair shaft. One of my favourite shampoos is AVEDA Pure Abundance™ Volumizing Shampoo which leaves my fine hair with a gorgeous clean scent of peppermint, ylang ylang and jasmine.

Use conditioner sparingly and always condition from the midshaft to the tips if you have mid-length to long hair to avoid hair from looking greasy. Conditioner will not only moisturise your hair but it’ll make it softer and more manageable when it comes to styling. A weekly treatment is always beneficial if you have colour treated hair or use a lot of heat styling tools.

Our hero product, Philip Kingsley Elasticizer, is a brilliant intensive treatment for extremely broken and damaged hair. The longer a treatment can be left on the better- perhaps even overnight if you’re short on time.

After rinsing off your conditioner, try a final splash of cold water (as cold as you can bear) as this closes the cuticles and helps create shiny, smooth hair. Follow this by blotting your hair with a towel to remove any excess moisture. Never rub your hair dry as this will damage the hair cuticles and cause frizzy, fluffy strands.

Hair is most fragile when wet so working from the ends up to the crown use a wide tooth comb, or try a detangling brush from the Tangle Teezer range to remove tangles and minimise breakages.

If possible allow your hair to dry naturally; this is the healthiest option as it’ll prevent hair from drying out and creating further breakage or split ends. If this isn’t possible or time is short separate hair into sections: the crown, the back and the sides with a clip or hair tool which will make it easier to begin styling. Using a hairdryer work on each section, starting from the front and pull each section taut as you dry with a radial brush to create volume.

Avoid holding the hairdryer too close to your hair and use a cooler setting if possible to minimise damage. I couldn’t live without ghd Wonderland Air Hair Dryer which boasts ionic technology that dries my hair in super quick time, locks in moisture and gives soft and shiny results. A cold blast of cold air finishes my style so I’m ready to go in no time!

Blow drying can take some practice but once you master the right technique and take your time, you should be able to keep the look for several days. If in doubt you could always cheat and invest in the BaByliss 2885U Big Hair Styler.

This is a great alternative to use when hair is 50% dry and adds dramatic volume as it dries. The large ceramic barrel is great for longer length styles which can add fullness and body, while the soft mixture of natural and nylon bristles create the ultimate smoothness and shine. A definite must-have on your Christmas list this year!

To finish, use a small amount of serum which will keep hair shiny and minimize the frizz factor, then fix your style with some hair spray if necessary. If you’re off to a party then you might want to add some glitz with a jewelled hair accessory.